Thunderbird: a free email app for all your inboxes
Thunderbird says it is free forever and shows all your email accounts in one app, with no ads in your inbox.
Official app preview
What it is
Thunderbird is an email app you install on your computer or phone. You add the email accounts you already have, and it shows them in one place, with a unified inbox if you want one. The Thunderbird site says it also handles calendars and contacts. It is not an AI tool. We included it because it is a free app from an official source.
Is it free?
Yes. The Thunderbird download page says "Free forever. Donate to make it better." The Thunderbird Mobile page says the app has no ads and "It's actually free!", and the homepage says Thunderbird is funded by user donations. We saw no sign-up needed to download it. You still need your own email account, such as Gmail or Outlook, to use it.
What you get
- Desktop: the download page lists Windows (64-bit and 32-bit, plus separate builds for Windows 7 and 8.1), macOS and Linux.
- Android: the homepage links to Google Play and F-Droid. The Mobile page says it supports multiple accounts, a unified inbox, and light and dark modes. We did not check an iPhone app.
- Features the site lists: several accounts managed separately or together, filters and tags, add-ons on desktop, and OpenPGP encryption on Android when paired with the OpenKeychain app (the Mobile page calls this for advanced users).
What to watch out for
- No Hindi on the language list. The download page lists many languages, and the only Indian one we saw is Punjabi (India). Hindi, Tamil and other Indian languages did not appear. English works, but check the list if you want another language.
- You must set up your accounts. Thunderbird connects to your existing email provider. Some providers need you to allow it to sign in. We did not test this with any provider.
- Donation prompts. The homepage asks for donations. Nothing there says you must pay.
Privacy and data
- The homepage says Thunderbird does not collect personal data, sell ads in your inbox, or secretly train AI with your private conversations.
- The privacy notice says your name, email messages and address book are stored and processed locally on your device and not sent to Thunderbird. It says Thunderbird receives your email domain, not your full address, to set up an account.
- It also says Thunderbird sends telemetry (how features are used, plus technical data like app version, device system and language). Your IP address is temporarily kept in server logs. The notice points to documentation on how to opt out.
- On desktop, it asks before sending a crash report. The notice says a crash report can contain memory contents that may include sensitive data, and you can decline.
- Your email provider (Gmail, Outlook and so on) still handles your mail under its own policy.
India
- We found no India restriction on the pages we read. The download page does not state country availability. We did not check Google Play or F-Droid from India.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thunderbird free?
Yes. The site says it is free forever and funded by donations.
Does it work on a phone?
The site lists an Android app on Google Play and F-Droid. We did not verify an iPhone app.
Does it come with an email address?
No. It connects to email accounts you already have.
Sources: Thunderbird homepage, Thunderbird Mobile, Privacy Notice, Download options. Checked 15 October 2026.
Official publisher branding appears in the documented interface example above. Independent guide, not affiliated.
Official homepage, Desktop and all-downloads pages rechecked 23 October 2026. Windows, macOS, Linux and Android downloads remain listed. The desktop installer locale selector still lists Punjabi (India), but not Hindi, Tamil or Malayalam; the website language menu is a separate list. Other statements retain their original source-check date. Original publication date is unchanged.